European Champions League/Manchester City v AC Monaco

Pep Guardiola has assembled a squad at Manchester City capable of winning the Champions League. City made tentative, yet tumultuous, steps towards the quarter-finals with a 5-3 first-leg win over Monaco in the last 16.

Guardiola has reached at least the semi-finals in all seven of his seasons as a manager with Barcelona and Bayern Munich, but has warned his side will require their shooting boots again when they travel to Stade Louis II on Wednesday.

I expect a repeat of the thrilling encounter at the Etihad Stadium three weeks ago, but believe eliminating Leonardo Jardim’s men could provide a platform to go even better than last season’s run to the semi-finals.

I think there’ll certainly be goals in it, but I think City have got a great opportunity.

What I will say about Man City, Chelsea are running away with the league and you’ve seen Barcelona this week, but City on any given day could beat any team with the players they’ve got.

With Sergio Aguero, with Kevin De Bruyne, the form Raheem Sterling’s in, Leroy Sane, David Silva, Yaya Toure.

They’re players that can hurt anybody in the world and I think the knockout stages of the Champions League give City a huge chance.

They got to the semis last year and lost out narrowly to Real Madrid, who went on to win it, and I think City are equipped and have a much better squad than they did this time last year.

I expect another goal fest when Manchester City travel to Monaco, but he says Pep Guardiola could lead the club to European glory.

Pep Guardiola knows his first season at Manchester City will be judged on how many trophies they win. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola accepts his side’s season will be considered a failure if they are unable to win silverware.

Guardiola arrived in England on the back of trophy-laden spells at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, and with expectations that would continue at City.

His team faced Middlesbrough in the FA Cup quarter-finals last Saturday with a convincing win and are on track to reach the Champions League last eight, while their chances of winning the Premier League title are now quite slim. Guardiola said he knew how he would be judged come the end of the season, accepting trophies were needed.

“I know what my standard is in terms of the past and titles. I know what’s on my shoulders and I have to handle that,” he told UK newspapers.

“I know we will be judged on the titles we win. I know that. No silverware – it will not be a good season. I knew that in August.

“If I have no silverware, I will not be here for a long time.

Being a manager depends on results.

“But I always believe deep in my heart that results depend on the way you play. That’s why I need to be convinced that we’re playing better every day.

” Guardiola won three consecutive league titles at both Barca and Bayern, but was only able to deliver European success ? twice ? to the former.

The 46-year-old said his inability to win the Champions League with the Bundesliga giants meant his stint was considered a failure.

“My period in Munich was judged like a disaster because we were not able to win the Champions League. I won three leagues in a row, we won two cups from three, we arrived every time in the semi-finals and finals, [but] it was a disaster, ”

Guardiola said. “I have to handle that but what I can say is try to play better, better, better than the previous month. That’s what I want to see for the next year – be better.”